A Gift to the People

enator Tony Guglielmo presenting a citation to Friends of Goodwin Forest at the 50th Anniversary Celebration in Hampton

I recently had the pleasure of honoring the work of the Goodwin Forest Conservation group at their 50th Anniversary and open house. For half a century the people of Connecticut have been welcomed into Goodwin State Forest in the town of Hampton. The land was a gift to the people of Connecticut from James L Goodwin one of the state’s first professional foresters in 1964.
The 2,000 acre forest has miles of trails and is the home to a wide array of wildlife. And for those who love water recreation there are 3 large ponds and a nature museum. Many years ago the Conservation and Education Center was built and to this day is managed jointly by the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection and The Connecticut Forest & Park Association.

Goodwin Forest founders – courtesy DEEP

Families that came out to the park for the 50th Anniversary celebration were treated to some really fun activities. There was Apple Stamping, Paper making, Leaf rubbing, Hampton Historical Society brought their antique tool display and Wood Products display as well.

During a dedication ceremony the group unveiled a carved wooden sculpture created to memorialize this great occasion.

Goodwin Forest is one of the many parks we have here in our state. In fact, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) touts the Connecticut State Park system consists of 107 locations that offer everything from hiking, biking, camping, boating, and picnicking to swimming, bird watching, and the opportunity to see breathtaking scenery and historic sites.

The state park system, which recently marked its 100 anniversary, attracts more than eight million visitors a year according to the DEEP agency. A study by the University of Connecticut demonstrated that outdoor and leisure time spending by state park visitors contributes more than $1 billion a year to the state’s economy.

On this day the price of admission was caring for the land donated to the people of Connecticut and honoring the idea of conservation.
If you like to walk and are a senior citizen the park has an upcoming senior only event you may be interested in: on September 30 from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, meet at the Conservation Center, 23 Potter Road, Hampton.

These walks are a great opportunity to get outside, learn something new and maybe even meet a few new friends.
To learn more about the Friends of Goodwin Forest visit www.friendsofgoodwinforest.org.